Improvement in plant-protectors



J. M. WATSON PLANT PROTECTOR.

Y Patented June 30, 1868.

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JEREMIAH M. WATSON, or SHARON. MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO-HIM ,SELF ANDWILLIAM B. WIGKES, OF SAME PLACE.

Letters Patent Ive-79,422, dated Julie 30, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN PLANT-PROTECTORS.

TO ALL PERSONS TO WHOM THESE. PRESENTS MAY COM-E:

Be it known that I, JEREMIAH M. WATSON, of Sharon, in the county ofNorfolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a. new and usefulPlant-Protector; and do hereby declare the some to be fully described inthe following specification, and represented in the accompenyingdrawings, of which-+- Figure 1 is a. top view,

Figure 2 a front elevation, and

Figure'3 a vertical section of it. i

The purpose of the invention is to protect a, pln-n't from worms orinsects while-such plant may be in the process of growing. i

The base of the protector is a thin hoop, A, formed of sheet metal orother suitable material, which, when placed on the ground, may be easilyforced edgewise down into the same. To and around the upperpartof thohoop a hollow cylinder or frustum, of gonzo or netting, B, is fixed, theupper part of such netting being screwed to and about the periphery of adisk, 0. Through this dial: a stoke or pole, D, extends, it beingprovided with a shoulder, a, for the disk to rest upon. The stakeprojects both above and belowthe disk, and below the hoop, in manner asrepresented, although it is not essential that it should extend abovethe disk. The purpose of the stake is to support the disk or upper partof-the netting at a proper height above the ground.

In-sr'ronging the protector over a plant or a quantity of seeds sown inthe earth, the stake is-to be, driven into the ground close to the plantor seeds, and far enough to allow of the hoop being pressed nearly itsdepth intmthc esrth, and about the seeds or plant. The protector servesto keep bugsfinscctm'birds, and'worms from getting access to the seedsor plant, and eating or injuring the same. i

I am aware of the plant-protector represented in fInstrumentsd'Agriculture et de Jurdinage," plate 104,

fig. 7, which consists simply of a wire cage, open at bottom, and havingfour feet or wires projecting from the corners of its bottom. I do notclaim such plant-protector, as mine differs essentially from it; that isto soy, mine has not only a. central. stake, to support thenetting-disk, and operate-as a bundle thereto, but ithas a. thin andwide ring'at its bottom, to enter the soil. I

My plant-protector can be folded, so he to occupy a. very small place,and may be fixed in place by its stake, and so as to prevent itfrombeing overthrown by a-bird when it may be in use I Froln theforegoing, it will be perceived that the nature of my invention consistsin tl1e employment of a. screen, of gauze, or other woven and pliablefabric oflike character, in combination with a central stake, forstretching and upholding'the screen, and for giving additional strengthand stability to the whole device, and a ring or hoop, of metal or othersuitable mnterinl, whose lower edge enters the earth, and holds thebottom of the fabric in place. 7 i

The stake D may also, as shown in the drawing, be so arranged as to beresdily'fitted in or withdrawn from a hole formedfor its reception inthe disk 0., v This facilitates the packing of the device, for, afterremoving the stake, the netting or. gonzo may be folded and packedwithin the ring A. 1

in any event, however, whether the stake be removable or not, it'servesto steady and susteiuthe protector in position over thcplonts or seed-tobe protectedpandstretches and upholds the gauze or other woven andpliable fabric OfWhlCh the main portion of the protector is composed IWhnt I claim, therefore, as my invention, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is- I A plant-protector, in which a. screen, of gauze,netting, or equivalent 'woven-ond-pliable fabric, is combined with thehoop or ring A and the supporting-strike D, in the manner and for thepurposes-shown and set forth.

I I vil'ElildillldIAH WATSON.

Witnesses:

. Wu. B. Wrcxss, Wu. R. Mun.

